Elastic tension device



May 20, 1930. SPINO ET AL ELASTIC TENSION DEVICE Filed April 20, 1928 1 lllllllllllll II INVENTOR.

1o sembly.

Patented May '20, 1930 LEON SPI-NO AND JOSEPH NICOLETTA, OF CLYDE, NEW YORK ELAs'rIc TENSION DEVICE I Applicationjfiled A ril 2o,

This invention relates-to im rovements in elastic tension-devices particularly adapted to form a yieldable connection betweenparts of various devices, machinery, and the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to "provide a device of the above-kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction, eflicient in use and capable of ready and economical manufacture and as- Another object is to provide a tension device of the above kind embodying a helical tension spring and attaching elements secured to the ends of saidsp'rin'g', said attaching elements embodying longitudinally adjustable en aging members for maintaining "agiven desired length ofthe connecting device even though the sprin m-ay havebecome shortened by reason V breaking at an end thereof.

' "Still-another object is to provide simple and eflicient means for readily connecting or disconnectingtheends ofthe spring to or from the attaching elements.

A still further object is to provide simple and eflicient means for securing the engaging members of the attaching elements in any desired position of adjustment.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form,,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the elastic tension device embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view with the tension spring omitted;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of a modified form of attaching block for the end attaching elements; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the detachable securing elements of the attacnlng block shown in Figure 5.

1928. Serial No. 271,586.

' Referring more in detail to the drawing,

the present elastic tension device is shown as embodying a helical tension spring 5 having normally contiguous convolutions, and

attaching elements 6 secured to the endsofthe spring 5 and provided with longitudinally adjustable engaging members 7 preferably having their outer ends in the form'of hooks 8 for detachable engagementwith the parts of the deviceor machine to be yieldingly connected.

As shown, each end attaching element 6 consists of a cylindrical attaching block or nut member 9 adapted to snugly removably fit in the adjacent end of thespring 5 and provided with oppositely dlsposed laterally projecting malleable lugs 10 adapted to be entered between adjacent ;c0nvoluti'ons of the spring 5 at the end of the latter by relatively turning the block 9 and spring 5 about their longitudinal axes when placed together. When the block 9 has been entered a sufiicientdistance into the spring 5 with the lugs 10 engaged between adjacent convolutions of the spring 5 as shown in Figure 1, so as to effect-a firm connection between the "spring and the attaching element, the connection is secured by clinching the free ends of-the "lugs 10 outwardly over the iadj acent convolution of" the spring outwardlythereof "as indicated at 115- As the lugs 10:are malleable they may 'bepried open or released'by the use of a suitable tool for being againsecure'd to the "end of the spring-'5 in case'end portion thereof should become broken. 'S-u'ch break ing ofthe spring necessarily results in'shortening th'ereofg'an'd order to effect a ni-aintenance of the 'same' effective length of the tension device after such occurrence, the on gaging member 7 is longitudinally adjustable relative to the attaching block -"9. For this purpose, each "engaging member L'TLpreferabIy consists of an elongated screw threaded shank 12 adjustably threaded through an aX- 'ial bore of the attaching block 9;.so'that by turning the member- 7 relative to the block 9, it may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to vary the effective length of'the elastic tension device. Obviously, such adjustment may also save "the 'pluripose of varying .the

tension between the connected parts of the machine or'the like.

J amb nuts 13 and 14 are preferably "threaded upon the stem 12 against opposite preferably consists ends of the block 9 to secure the engaging member 7 in any desired longitudinally ad- 7 justed positionrelative to the block 9, means 7 being associated with the nut; 13 for locking it in holding'positio'n against the inner end of the block 9 to lock the member 7 in adjusted position.- As shown, this locking means lug 15' provided on the inner end of the block 9 and adaptedto be forcedinwa'rdly against the'adjacent side of the nut 13 as 'wellas to have its free inner end clinched as at16 over 7 the inner end of the; nut 13 as shown in Figure 2. v a i V While the lugs 10 areshown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive as integrally formed on the attaching block 9, theymay be formed on ,theinner ends of separate plates 17 remov- .fably seated in suitable recesses 18 provided inzopposite sidesot the block memberir9 as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this way, separate securing elementsmaybe had which are renewable when broken, the plates 17 being preferably seated in the recesses 18jflush' withthe outer surface of the block 9 to permit free turning of thel'atter relative to the spr1ng, 5 when assembling the parts; Ob-

, viously, the convolutions of the spring posiconvolutions,

"cured to I each end of said spring, V taching 2elen1ent including an attachmg block removably connected to the spring and having an axial tioned outwardly of the lugs 10 ofthe plates 17 will serve to, hold the latter in the recesses 18 in this form ofgconstruction. ,7 "In use, theengaging members. 7 are longitudinally adjusted to the desired position and locked in suchposition, whereupon the hook members 'S'areengagedwith the respective parts tojbe connected so as to provvide a yielding connection therebetween under'theedesired'tension, V v

What we claimas new is v helical tension springlhaving closely related and an 7 attaching element seeach atthreaded opening, an

' engaging memberiembodying a stem adjust- J ably a and having means for connecting its outer threaded in'the opening of the block of a further malleable its free end clinched over the inner'end of In testlmony whereof fwe aflix I our sig- 1. Anelastictension device comprising a secured to each endof said spring, each at- V taching element including an attaching block removably connected to the spring and having an axial threaded-opening, an engaging member embodying a stem adjustably threaded in the opening of the'block and having means for connecting its outerend to one of a pair of'parts to be connected by the tension device, a i amb nut threaded on the stem atithe lnner end 'ofthe block, and a malleable lug on the inner end of the block taching element including an attaching gaging member embodying, astemi adjustably threaded in the opening of the block .and having means end t0 one of a pair ofparts to be connected for connecting its outer by the tension device, a'jamb nut threaded convolutions, andan attaching element secured to each end of said spring, each at Y Y block removably connected to the spring and having an axial threaded opening, an en-Qg i on the stem at the inner end ofthe block, and

a malleable lug on the inner end of the block a V pressed againstsaid jambnut to hold it adjusted againstthe block and thereby secure;

tive to the block, said last named lug' having said jamb nut; V

natures.

LEON SPINO.

JOSEPH NIOOLETTA- t Y 7 end to one of a palr'of parts to be connected countersunk bytheltension device, lateral malleable lugs on opposite sides of the attaching blockpassingoutwardly between adj acent convolutions of the spring and clinched over one of said convolutions, said block having recesses in opposite sides thereof, and plates .removably I in said recesses andhaving said 7 lugsformed on'the innerends thereof.

2. "An elastictension device comprising a helical tension spring having closely re- *lated'eonvolutions, and an attaching element the stem in any position of adjustment rela- 

